Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Abuja versus $105 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $189 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $273 in Kano.

Living in Abuja is roughly 972% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Kano 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,940

$1.71 ₦2,266

29.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.1K

$14.76 ₦19.6K

105.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,890

$6.41 ₦8,491

-30.73%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,407

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₦682

$0.17 ₦220

200.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦943

$0.14 ₦189

407.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,414

$0.29 ₦379

268.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,767

$0.29 ₦380

620.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,796

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,734

$0.63 ₦834

107.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,881

$0.58 ₦773

274.14%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,489

$0.93 ₦1,229

102.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,143

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,824

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,741

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,891

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,003

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,131

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,397

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,295

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦741

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$0.62 ₦827

-40.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,671

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,568

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,583

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,452

$0.29 ₦381

537.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦481

$0.29 ₦388

24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦42.9K

$12.65 ₦16.8K

155.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦821

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,163

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,483

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦719

$0.49 ₦646

10.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K ₦34.2M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K ₦24.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 ₦146.7K

$7.53 ₦9,977

1370.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.61 ₦8,758

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

$6.60 ₦8,748

336.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.3K

$20.50 ₦27.2K

77.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,603

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.89 ₦59.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦102.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦603.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦928.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦504.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kano: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $20.00 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abuja vs Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Kano differ by about 972% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $105 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,681 in Abuja and $157 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 156% less than in Abuja. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $105 in Kano versus $1,121 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 972% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.